Fred Willard Godding

Fred Willard Godding, age 85, of Rhinelander, died on Sunday, October 13, 2024. He was born in Milwaukee on March 11, 1939, to Willard (Bill) Fred Godding and Florence Eva (Tilden) Godding.

For his first ten years the family lived in Neillsville and then in Wausau. At age 10 his family moved to Eagle River in 1949 to operate his grandparent’s resort “The Tilden” which was located on Meta and Cranberry Lakes.

This is where Fred and his younger brother, Jack Michael, learned to love the outdoors and develop their woodworking skills.

Their mother, Florence, loved horses and she had eight, so caring for them and participating in horse shows was a common event. The horses were also used to skid lumber logs out of the woods. This provided lumber to build two additional cottages.

After graduating as valedictorian of his high school class at Three Lakes in 1957, Fred attended the Wausau Vocational School in a two-year course in Residential Architecture. Upon graduation he began his first full-time job with the Rhinelander Glass Co. in 1960, designing and building store fronts in the Northwoods.

Fred had joined the Army National Guard while a senior in high school. In 1961 – 1962, President Kennedy called up the 32nd Infantry Division, of which our Rhinelander unit was a part of, for active duty during the Berlin Crisis. After returning from training at Fort Lewis, Washington, he continued working with the Glass Co. until Friday, May 13, 1966, when he decided to begin his own home building business, Godding Builders.

Fred married Kathryn Mary Garnich on November 2, 1963, at St. Mary of the Snows Episcopal Church in Eagle River. They lived their first year together in the cottage Fred and family had previously built on Cranberry Lake. Then on July 4, 1964, they moved to a small house on County Hwy C, Rhinelander.

Fred was an active member of St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church, where he served as a Vestry member and Senior and Junior Warden over several years.

He was on the Board of Directors for Headwaters Regional Achievement Center and the Oneida Council of Camp Fire. In the 1980’s when home building slowed, he converted his storage building into a cabinet woodworking shop. This has been the main emphasis of custom wood projects of all types which son, Fred Michael is continuing.

Fred was always thinking of things he could do or make for people to make them happy. He enjoyed sharing his love of his cabin and jeep with friends. He made lifelong friends everywhere he went.

He is survived by his brother, Jack Michael (Wendy) Godding, his son, Fred M., two daughters, Karla M. (Jim) Monarski and Kim M. (Dan) Chagnon, both of Rhinelander; six grandchildren, Shannon Godding, Monty Cortright, Nathan Cortright, Abby (Luke) Pearson, Tucker Cortright, and Jessica Chagnon. Two great-grandchildren, Sophia Pearson, and Lukcus Pearson; his Sheltie buddy, Katie; and extended family and friends.

The visitation for Fred will take place on Friday, October 18, 2024, at the Hildebrand Funeral Home, from 5 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church, located at 39 S. Pelham Street. Please meet at the church by 10:45 a.m. Mother Meredyth Albright will officiate.

Immediately following the mass, military honors will be conducted by the Northwoods Honor Guard and by two representatives from the United States Army. Inurnment will take place at a later date in St. Augustine’s Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Fred may be given to the family.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hildebrand Funeral Home, 24 E. Davenport Street, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, 54501, 715-365-4343. Everyone is invited to leave an online condolence at www.hildebrandrussfh.com